Engineering Independence: NeoMotion’s Journey to Global Readiness 

NeoMotion’s story begins in a lab, not a boardroom. 

Co-founders Swostik Dash and his colleagues from Indian Institute of Technology–Madras (IIT–Madras) were engineers driven to create meaninful solutions. While completing their master’s research in rehabilitation, they met people living with spinal cord injuries and witnessed firsthand how thoughtful design could restore independence. 

“We realized that simple devices could bring enormous change in a person’s life,” said Swostik. “In India, nobody was really designing for the realities faced by people with disabilities such as spinal cord injuries.” 

After several years in corporate roles, the founders returned to IIT Madras to turn prototypes into products.  Traveling across India, they met hundreds of users and witnessed directly what independence truly means in daily mobility. These experiences and insights led to the creation of NeoFly and NeoBolt — affordable, modular mobility solutions designed to empower dignity and movement. 

When NeoMotion joined the Praxis SCI Accelerate program, it had six products in the market and over 6,500 users. The challenge was understanding how to bring that success to global markets, from user expectations to clinician roles and regulatory needs. 

“Had we not gone through Praxis SCI Accelerate program, we would have spent years finding these answers on our own,” said Swostik. “Praxis helped us understand what global readiness truly means.” 

Through persons with lived experience (PLEX) focus groups and clinician sessions, the team gained insight into what global users value: trust, documentation, and usability backed by validation. They also learned how clinicians influence adoption in prescription-driven systems and how pricing and regulatory pathways differ internationally. 

After the program, NeoMotion puts its new knowledge into work. The team refreshed its website and marketing to better communicate value and safety and produced new videos showing real-world usability. 

Feedback from the PLEX sessions led to a universal attachment system compatible with multiple wheelchair models, improving flexibility for global users. At the same time, NeoMotion streamlined its logistics, solving complex battery-shipping challenges and opening its first direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform for international orders. 

These steps paved the way for the company’s next milestone: achieving ISO 13485 certification, confirming compliance with global medical device standards. The first shipments to Australia and Canada soon followed. 

During in-person sessions in Canada, NeoMotion worked closely with PLEX members and clinicians who tested their products and offered candid feedback. One participant became an early champion, helping connect the team with others and inspiring small but meaningful design improvements. 

“That kind of support tells you that what you’re building matters,” said Swostik. 

Today, NeoMotion continues to collaborate with more than sixty PLEX contributors to refine products and guide new designs. With new global partners and a growing user community, the company remains focused on creating affordable, adaptive mobility solutions that restore dignity and independence. 

Reflecting on the journey, Swostik said, “Praxis helped us move from local impact to global understanding. It showed us how to build with users, not just for them.” 

NeoMotion is an innovative start-up incubated at IIT Madras, dedicated to creating transformative products for the physically challenged and the elderly. Its flagship products, NeoFly and NeoBolt, are designed to enhance mobility and independence. 

NeoFly is a personalized wheelchair that prioritizes health, energy efficiency, compactness, and style, ensuring comfort and usability for its users. Complementing this, NeoBolt is an add-on that transforms NeoFly into a safe, roadworthy vehicle, empowering wheelchair users to explore the world, pursue education, and seek employment. Through these initiatives, NeoMotion is committed to improving the quality of life for individuals with mobility challenges. 

Visit their website 

A six-month Innovation program geared towards healthcare companies with a product ready to launch into market that will transform the lives of people living with SCI. In addition to providing targeted persons with lived experience(PLEX) and research mentoring, the program offers regulatory, reimbursement and business mentorship support from leaders in the healthcare industry. 

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